DeMarcus Cousins: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Keeping Him on Sacramento Kings

DeMarcus Cousins has stirred up a hornets nest in Sacramento, and Kings general manager Geoff Petrie is stuck with a conundrum of epic proportions. He must now weigh the pros and cons of keeping Cousins in Sacramento and make the decision that makes the most sense long-term for the Kings.

To recap what the fuss is all about, Cousins and ex-head coach Paul Westphal were heard arguing and Cousins was heard demanding to be traded. Westphal and the Kings sent Cousins home after that outburst, only to bring him back into the fold a couple days later. 

There were reportedly some inquiries about Cousins' price-tag from a few teams, but nothing has come out of those probes, and nobody expects the team to trade him at this point.

Then, in a move that shows how little influence and respect the Kings had for Westphal's ability to lead this young team, the Kings fired him in favor of assistant Keith Smart, former Warriors coach. Then the Kings shocked everyone and gave Smart a two-year contract.

Nobody will argue that Westphal was not on a short leash, but there is no way he would have been fired this early on in the 2011-2012 NBA season if Cousins hadn't acted out.

The sad part to me is that a selfish young player who hasn't proved anything yet in the NBA was chosen over a tenured head coach who has given up everything to the game he loves.

So it seems like the Kings may have already made up their minds about keeping Cousins on their roster, but you never know what goes on in the back rooms and minds of the executives and deal-makers in the NBA.

Pro: Cousins Is Undeniably Talented

There is no denying the fact that DeMarcus Cousins is extremely talented. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Cousins may be as talented as Chris Webber was in his heyday. 

Cousins will continue to get better as he gets older, too. Remember, he's just a pup at 21 years old. His body will continue to grow a little bit as he gets into his mid-to-late 20s, and he will put on roughly 15-20 more pounds as his frame fills out.

So, if you project him out a handful of years, you're looking at a 28-year old center who could top 7'0" and will weigh close to 300 pounds by the time it's all said and done.

Cousins has been a dominant player since his high school days, and he was one of the hottest players to come out of college in 2010 when he was taken by the Kings with the fifth-overall pick out of Kentucky.

His rookie campaign showed what everyone expected to see: Cousins is capable of becoming a dominant big man in the NBA.

Con: Cousins Is Incredibly Selfish

DeMarcus Cousins likes things to go his way, and when they don't, he tends to make life miserable for everyone around him. He is the most selfish young player in the NBA today.

Cousins' behavior has been well-documented all the way back to high school and into his one year at Kentucky. He was known for his outbursts against trainers, coaches, referees and teammates.

Don't forget that it was not even one year ago that the Kings were forced to suspend Cousins for an altercation inside the locker room after Donte Green overlooked Cousins for the potential game-winning shot against the New Orleans Hornets.

Pro: Talented Big Men Are Hard to Come by

Finding a big man that can become the cornerstone of your franchise is one of the top priorities for every single general manager in the NBA. The Kings are invested in one of the better ones to come out in the last five years.

When you take a close look at the rosters of every team in the league, you come to realize quite quickly that there just aren't many other big men you'd rather have than the one currently causing all the fuss in Sacramento.

It's obvious that the Kings have already decided to choose the talented diva over the ineffective coach, so that debate is settled, whether it was the right decision or not. 

Con: Any Trade Value That Was There Before Is Diminished

The Kings really have no leverage at this point. Cousins' actions have painted the team into a corner, and his behavior has diminished any potential trade value he once had.

I would advocate trading the troubled youth if the Kings could bring in a veteran point guard to run the offense. I'm not saying they should take a bad deal, but if there is a good deal to be had, then by all means they should take it.

Teams may desperately want to pick him up, but they won't be offering the Kings any blockbuster deals in order to gain his services. Cousins has effectively caused his own downfall, because there is no way Geoff Petrie will take a deal that isn't good for the long-term success of the team.

It seems as if Cousins will continue to play basketball for the Sacramento Kings, whether he or anyone else likes it or not. The Kings have decided that he will remain on their roster for the time being, and I don't foresee them changing their minds any time soon.